BACKGROUND Long-term high-concentrate diet (HCD) feeding can cause subacute ruminal acidosis in cows and subsequently trigger systemic inflammatory and immune responses. Therefore, we conducted the present study in which twelve lactating cows installed with ruminal fistula were randomly assigned to the HCD group (forage:concentrate = 4:6, n = 6) or the low-concentrate diet (LCD) group (forage:c...

The impact of a long-term subacute rumen acidosis (SARA) on the bovine epimural bacterial microbiome (BEBM) and its consequences for rumen health is poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate shifts in the BEBM during a long-term transient SARA model consisting of two concentrate-diet-induced SARA challenges separated by a 1-week challenge break. Eight cows were fed forage and varying c...

This study investigated the effect of diet and host on the rumen bacterial microbiome and the impact of an acidotic challenge on its composition. Using parallel pyrosequencing of the V3 hypervariable region of 16S rRNA gene, solid and liquid associated bacterial communities of 8 heifers were profiled. Heifers were exclusively fed forage, before being transitioned to a concentrate diet, subjecte...

Abstract Finishing cattle are exposed to diets with high amounts of starch and consequently hindgut acidosis. Usually, antibiotics like ionophores used control dysbiosis at gut level. However, natural options being evaluated as healthy alternatives. Flavonoids well known antibacterial agent, an interesting alternative antibiotics. The aim this experiment was evaluate the performance finishing s...

A complex system of economic and political policies has led to the mass over production of corn in the United States. As a result of this overproduction, we now see corn in the majority of processed foods as well as animal feeds, in particular cattle feed. However, evolutionarily cattle are adapted to pasture diets not corn-based diets. Cattle have complex digestive systems, consisting of the r...

Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) is characterized by repeated bouts of low ruminal pH. Cows with SARA often develop complications or other diseases, and associate physiologically with immunosuppression and inflammation. Ruminal free lipopolysaccharide (LPS) increases during SARA and translocates into the blood circulation activating an inflammatory response. Ruminal fermentation and cellular im...

Rumensin and Tylan, both marketed by Elanco Products Company, have proved to be valuable feed additives when fed to finishing feedlot cattle. Rumensin was approved in the mid-1970s to improve feed efficiency and average daily gain. Rumensin frequently is used to manage digestive disturbances associated with otherwise erratic intakes of high grain diets. Tylan is fed as a preventative for liver ...

Twelve dairy heifers were used to examine the clinical response of an alimentary oligofructose overload. Six animals were divided into 3 subgroups, and each was given a bolus dose of 13, 17, or 21 g/kg of oligofructose orally. The control group (n = 6) was sham-treated with tap water. Signs of lameness, cardiovascular function, and gastrointestinal function were monitored every 6 h during devel...